Moonlight poured through broken stained-glass, painting the ruined church in fractured color. In a shallow pool near the altar, Irina splashed water at her face and let out a frustrated huff.
"I don't get why I can't even take a proper bath," she complained, wringing a towel over her shoulder. "This has to be another one of God's tests or something."
"You really believe that?" Xenovia asked from the pool's edge. Her expression was equal parts annoyed and amused as she pointed at a dusty painting propped against the wall. "Especially after you spent all our money on... that weird painting."
Irina's eyes flashed. "What are you saying? That picture has a real holy figure in it-I swear I felt it!" She jabbed a finger at the canvas as if it might prove her point.
"The exhibition guy said so," Irina continued, wounded and sincere. "Why would he lie?"
Xenovia flopped down and rubbed her face with her towel. "Ugh. Why did I get stuck with you as a partner?" Her tone softened into exasperated affection. "Fine. First things first: food. We can't go hunting Excalibur on empty stomachs."
Irina's cheeks reddened as both of their stomachs betrayed them with loud growls. They exchanged a sheepish look.
"So...what now?" Irina asked.
Xenovia considered, then smirked a little. "We could threaten donations out of other sects."
Irina's eyes widened. "God would totally forgive us, right?" she said, half joking.
"No." Xenovia stood and paced a few steps. "We could steal an offering box." She then sat back down. "No-that's crossing a line."
Irina mirrored her, "Right. Not very... nice."

It was a bright morning at Kuoh Academy, the kind that felt too peaceful for what Ryusei usually went through. She walked side by side with Rias, chatting idly about their upcoming classes, when someone suddenly shouldered past her hard enough to make her stumble.
"The hell?" Ryusei muttered, irritation flashing across her face.
The girl who'd bumped into her turned, glaring over her shoulder. She looked about fourteen or fifteen with long hair that was half-black, half-crimson, and eyes that burned an eerie blue-green.
What made Ryusei stop in her tracks was how familiar that face was. It was like staring at a younger version of herself.
"What the hell are you looking at, two-toned freak?" the girl snapped.
Ryusei's eye twitched. "Hey-who the hell do you think you are calling me that?! You've got the same hair, you little brat!" She jabbed a finger toward her own half-black and white strands in disbelief.
Rias blinked, caught between amusement and confusion, before stepping forward to defuse the situation. "Now, now-let's not start fighting before first period," she said, offering a graceful smile. "Hello there. My name is Rias Gremory, third-year. You must be new here, right? It's nice to meet you."
The younger girl's glare melted into a bright, innocent smile as she shook Rias' hand. "It's nice to meet you too, senpai! I'm EX, a first-year student. I just transferred to Kuoh Academy."
Her polite tone and cute smile didn't fool Ryusei for a second - especially not when the girl glanced at her again, smirking smugly like she'd already won some kind of unseen contest.
Ryusei's temper flared. "You little-!"
Rias sighed softly, holding Ryusei back by the wrist. "Ryusei, please. She's just a first year."
EX tilted her head innocently. "Oops, did I upset you, upperclassman?" she said, voice laced with obvious mischief. "Guess I should try to watch where I'm going next time."
Then, before Ryusei could snap again, EX turned on her heel and walked off toward the first-year building, her crimson-black hair swaying behind her.
Rias frowned slightly as they watched her go. "That was... odd. She looks a lot like you."
Ryusei grumbled, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Great. First thing in the morning and I already meet my evil mini-me."
Rias chuckled softly and looped her arm through Ryusei's. "You're overreacting, love. She's probably just shy."
Ryusei gave her a doubtful look.
Later on outside, under the exterior corridors of Kuoh Academy, the small group had gathered. Ryusei, Issei, Asia, Aika, Motohama, and Matsuda were chatting idly as the sunlight slanted through the open sides.
Aika pointed at Asia with a grin. "Congratulations! We're all going karaoke with you today!"
"Yeah, Asia, right?" Motohama leaned closer to Asia with Matsuda just behind him, their excitement practically vibrating.
Asia laughed softly. "Yeah, I'm planning on it."
Meanwhile, Issei had gone silent, leaning over the short wooden railing and staring off into the distance. Ryusei fidgeted with the silver ring dangling from a string around her neck, her mind elsewhere.
"Awe, hell yeah!" Matsuda suddenly shouted. "Screw Kiryuu, I'll take two of that fly Asia!"
"Wait, what's wrong? Are you two okay?" Asia asked, glancing between Issei and Ryusei, both of whom seemed lost in their own worlds.
Before anyone could answer, a young man suddenly appeared right in front of Asia, holding her hand. Short blond hair, piercing gray eyes, and the Kuoh Academy boys' uniform worn casually with rolled-up sleeves.
"Oh... hello, Saji. How are you doing?" Asia said politely, trying to keep calm.
"Better now that I've laid eyes on you," Saji said smoothly.
"Hey, watch it! Student Council Secretary or not, you need to back off, mo-fo!" Motohama shouted, stepping forward.
Saji released Asia's hand, chuckling, and his eyes glanced toward Issei. "Such aggression. This is what I'm talking about, Asia," he said with a teasing smirk, then walked away.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about him," Issei muttered, finally breaking his gaze from the horizon.
"Same," Ryusei agreed, her fingers tightening slightly around the silver ring. 'Rika... when are you going to come out? How much energy do you need...'
From a distance on the PE field, Koneko watched the group quietly. EX-the new first-year girl-walked up to her with a small smile and a wrapped chocolate bar in hand.
"Hi, I'm EX. Since we're both first-years, I thought we could hang out. Also... chocolate?"
Koneko blinked, then nodded enthusiastically as EX handed it over. "I like you," she said simply, crunching into the chocolate without hesitation.
EX grinned, her mischievous smirk returning. "Good. I like you too."